simple living Archives
Unplugged. spend more time being switched on by being switched off
The last post in the declutter series this month is about decluttering your media exposure. There is a strong correlation between less screen time and more health, happiness and wellbeing. Today’s post is about living more in the here and now, and less vicariously through the filter of the screen.
uncommitted. declutter your schedule and get a life
Less is definitely more when it comes to schedules, commitments, to-dos and leading a happy, healthy, thriving life. Here are some tips on how to declutter your schedule.
everything I want, money can’t buy
When I think of the things that make me happy, and what I want more of in my life, I realise that none of those things can be bought with money. I don’t want clothes or the latest gadgets or more stuff (ok, sometimes I do), instead, I want intangible things that improve the quality [...]
too many choices spoil the decision
I’ve been having frequent bouts of decision paralysis lately. To name a few: what is the best exercise regime to start? (You know, anaerobic, aerobic – because if I’m going to start one then I want it to be the best.) What am I going to get the little fella for his birthday? (It has [...]
why facebook can save you money
Finding joy in the simple things in life is the cornerstone of frugality. Frugal people know that happiness can’t be purchased. But this idea goes against the grain of our modern consumer society. We are instead constantly told that life isn’t complete without X, Y or Z product. So in the face of constant advertising, [...]
Do you know your neighbours?
Our neighbours moved out this week. They have been the best neighbours we’ve ever had. They were not drug dealers, or 3am loud music partiers, or V8 Ute revers, or a screaming domestic couple (yes, we’ve had them all). Instead they were a quiet couple about our age with a young son like us, who [...]
simple things that make your heart sing
It was early morning. The light was the soft grey-blue of early dawn. The air light and cool, not hot, heavy and humid as it soon will be, scented slightly with sea-salt and eucalyptus. All was quiet of man-made noise. No traffic. No hustle and bustle. A magpie chortled in the tree. Despite the fact [...]
the things we just can’t live without
As time has passed, technology has become more accessible, standards of living have improved and things that in the past would have been considered luxuries, are now considered basic necessities. Essential. Take electricity, for example.
Making it yourself: fulfilling a human need?
I’m taking the lazy way out today and sharing with you a video I saw on The Atlantic. I love this quote: “It’s fun using the things that you make because they have stories.” That sums up everything I feel about making things yourself. If you buy something from the shop it doesn’t really have [...]
living an authentic life here and now
Living contrary to my values has been a source of discontent lately. I have a utopian vision of the ‘good life’, which if I squint, I can see somewhere off in the distance. But there are days when I examine my life that I can only see the discord between the vision and the reality. [...]
